The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-28
Pig Points.

Col. F. D. Curtis dislikes a too fat
pig Fat, he observes, will cover amul-
titude of defects in a pig, but lcanness
is an extreme much more desirable.
Some people may not agree with the
colonel, prcferring a happy medium, or
to have extremes meet-say streak OF
fat and streak of lean.
The opinion is gaining ground that
the proper feeding and care of swine has
much to do in warding off disease; this
in face of the fact that the most care
fully fed lots sometimes die in an incred-
IDLY short time.
To injudicious feeding is credited
large amount of the fatality among our
hogs. Under the existing circumstances
it would be we'll to carefully study all
matters relating to feeding. We are in
deep and well-worn ruts, and there are,
no doubt, dangerous, rough places that
must be removed, or leave these old
marks altogether for new ones.
Practical and successful men claim tina
a constant supply of salt for swine IS a
safe preventive of diseases, one that can
be counted on with degree Of certain
| ty; that by its cOnstent use the system
! is made strong to ward off disease.
! When the farmer has wood ashes and
charcoal at hand it is a great advantage
| to mix the salt with them. When the
salt is given at regular intervals it pre-
vents them getting a mouthlul of salt at
once, and more, they relish this mixture
very much. Nature demands something
of this kind to absorb the gases in the
stomach, and give tone and vigor to the
| system.
Pigs have small stomachs and great
appetites, and will easily gorge and over
| feed themselves. Bnt their digestion is
rapid and they can put away u>efuIIy
large quantity of food given little and
often" Over-fed pigs do not grow and
are always ailing. Never give medicine
to pigs, but stop their food and give
their stomachs a rest. Provide a bath
of some kind, if only clean mud-hoie,
| for them, to wallow in. 1t is their way
of keeping clean and Mother Earth is
! clean and sweet, and the very best decd
orizer for the odoriferouS hog. Also pro-
vide fresh, green food in abundance Sweet
corn is the very best feeding for this
season, and sufficient quantity of it
should always be planted early in May
for their use. No one ever heard of a
pig so fed being sick of cholera. Shade
is not only agreeable but necessary. If
nothing better can be procured, some
forked stakes driven in the grvund,
covered with brush and then with earth
dug out from between the stakes, leaving
soft, earthly bed for them, will be
greatly enjoyed. Pigs that are kept in
| pens should have a clean floor to lie
on, and pai.ful of cold water thrown
over it once day. Try it and sec how
they will enjoy it and clean their skins
by tho use of it. An excellent drink
for pigs of all kinds at this season is
SKINNED and buttermilk with little
bran stirred in it, With sweet corn this
will make meat very rapidly.
Clover as a forage crop in swine rails
ing has been highly recommended, and
not without reason, but since confnc-
ment has been made the order of the
day, the swine have been deprived of a
considerable share of the green forage
which pasturage provided. AS a sort of
substitute for green clover there is hard
| ly farmer, unless he is remarkably
fortunate man, but that as the season ad-
vanccs can find such supply of weeds
as will satisfy the dema2d of several pigs
or hogs for green forage until ripe APP
pies can be brought into use, After a
little time they will come to like them
and will devOur large quantities.